Altitude: 786m to 1508m. Gain: 972m. Loss: 880m . Gradient: 7 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Occasional rivers (3/5)
From Forks hut head westwards up the hill behind the huts and head up valley through tussock and occasional scrub. Cross the Windon Burn as required to avoid the worst of the terrain, but in general the open valley is pretty easy travel. The Windon can be followed all the way to the head of the valley, but a worthwhile route up to the ridge line involves going by the lake and swamp shown on the topomap. Cross a large side stream and climb the spur that comes off Peak 1711 at the 1060m contour and climb up to about 1300m before sidling northwards below the scree shown on the map. You'll soon reach a delightful area of alpine boglands and tarns with firm travel between the water features. Cross the outlet of the largest lake and climb directly northwards up onto the ridge line of the Livingstone Mountains at about Point 1508. Peak 1711 is an easy climb from here. Follow the ridge line eastwards and either go up and over Point 1553, or do as I did and sidle under bluffs beneath it, at the head of the valley draining down into the East Eglinton. Sidle northeastwards across a mixture of scree, tussock and talus. Theres a lake at CC09 149 028 at the head of the northern branch of this first side stream which looked like it had good camp sites. Climb up to the ridge line between Point 1417 and Peak 1991 and then drop steeply down into a 2nd, larger valley containging a stream draining the northern slopes of Moffat Peak. Climb northwards out of the valley to the ridge line between Point 1305 and Peak 1731. From CC09 148 045 there is a steep but straight forward descent to the northwest all the way down to the floor of the East Eglinton, initially on rock/clay and then tussock and scrub. Skirt around bush and cross a large tussocky clearing to another steep descent down to a large side stream at the top of the East Eglinton gorge at 800m. Walk up the true left side of the East Eglinton to either camp on tussock flats higher up, or camp in a sheltered spot amoungst scrub about 40m above the river.